THE COURIER/Jeanette Anderton Superintendent Mark Gotcher (right) recommends the Atkins Board of Education — pictured are Secretary Mark Coffman (left) and President Brian Boyer — not adopt a policy update that would ban students who don't take assessment tests from participating in extracurricular activities. The board unanimously approved not adopting the policy update.

ATKINS — The Atkins Board of Education unanimously approved not adopting an Arkansas School Boards Association (ASBA) policy update, which would ban students who don't take assessment tests from participating in extracurricular activities during its regular meeting Tuesday.

"I don't think it's right to single them out," board member Philip Haney said. "What about kids who don't do any extracurricular activities?"

Superintendent Mark Gotcher agreed, adding there are no consequences in place for students who don't participate in extracurricular activities.

"I can't recommend that," he said of the policy update.

The board approved a separate ASBA policy update which was just a wording change.

It also approved a wording change on a local policy regarding accrued leave for professional development. Currently, the policy requires employees to use their accrued leave by the end of the school year. The board approved changing it to read "by the end of the following semester," on Gotcher's recommendation.

Gotcher said employees sometimes attend professional development late in the school year, making it difficult to use accrued leave in time.

The board approved increasing the student school lunch price to $1.50 instead of the mandatory increase to $1.47.

Gotcher said he recommended the increase to an even amount "for the ease of cashiers and the food department," adding next year's mandatory increase would likely bring the price to $1.50 anyway.

The board tabled consideration of an administration/director salary multiplier and consideration of a stipend for teachers who receive national board certification. Look for more on the proposed stipend in future editions.

The teachers who received excellence awards for the spring — Jennifer Binnie, ABC preschool; Janet Clement, elementary school; Joan Puckett, middle school; and Chance Duncan, high school — were given plaques and recognized by the board during the meeting.

In other business, the board approved:

• High school summer school for June 9-27 at a rate of $15 per hour.

• An out-of-state trip for cheerleader camp in Branson, Mo., which will cost the district no money.

• The financial report as presented by Gotcher.

All board members were present and all actions were unanimously approved.